Overview

Shadows of Power is a sweeping and provocative exploration of how gender roles have shifted over the past four centuries and the consequences we're still reckoning with. While women have risen in education, leadership, and social influence, men are increasingly left behind struggling in silence with mental health, academic failure, economic instability, and a collapsing sense of purpose. Through a lens sharpened by history, sociology, and cultural insight, Dr. Kevin Brown maps the long arc of male dominance and its steady unraveling. He revisits the forgotten women who defied erasure, the rigid systems that upheld patriarchy, and the urgent crises that now engulf boys and men in today's society. This is not a story of winners and losers it is a warning, a reflection, and a roadmap; because the future of any society is not built on the rise of one gender, but on the healing of both. This book is not an attack on progress, feminism, or gender equity. Quite the opposite. It is a call to deepen that progress by widening our lens, by recognizing that systems that once suppressed women also rigidly confined men. The same patriarchal blueprints that denied women education and opportunity also taught men to bury emotion, equate worth with dominance, and fear vulnerability. These systems no longer serve anyone. From classrooms to prisons, boardrooms to family homes, Shadows of Power challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about gender, privilege, and power, while offering insights into what families, educators, and policymakers can do to help men thrive in a changing world. Why This Book Matters Parents of sons will find critical guidance on the challenges their boys face. Wives and partners will better understand the pressures shaping men's mental and emotional health. Schools and educators will discover how gender gaps in education are reshaping classrooms. Criminal justice and policymakers will gain insights into cycles of poverty, trauma, and incarceration. Workbook Included with the book.

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9781918171549

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Reviews

Praise for Shadows of Power I'm excited to finally read Dr. Kevin W. Brown's Shadows of Power in its entirety, and I can't wait for others to pick it up too! Fun fact: I had the honor of serving on creative design team on the book's cover and aesthetic-my very first project like this, and what a ride it's been. Dr. Brown, explores 400 years of shifting gender dynamics-how some people have gained influence and opportunity while others quietly struggle with identity, purpose, and belonging. This book isn't about blame-it's about understanding the challenges all of us face and imagining a future where everyone can thrive. Shadows of Power is essential reading for educators, parents, and policymakers. Join the conversation regarding how we can support young people, families, and communities in today's changing world. He is a native son of Louisiana! -Dr. Tony Rivera Dugas, Madison, Wisconsin ""Shadows of Power is a very compelling book. Looking at the overview, this book is an absolute must read for every male 16 and above, especially men of color. Being an older man of color, ""Shadows of Power"" opened my eyes to the issues of males are facing regarding masculinity, mental health, and education. This Book is a must read !!!!"" -Larry D. McGee, Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin Area ""Dr. Kevin Brown's work is both urgent and necessary. Shadows of Power challenges us to confront the forces that have shaped gender, education, and identity while offering a powerful call to rethink how we support boys, men, and families in today's society. This book is not only deeply researched but also deeply human."" - Dr. Tasia Fields, Greater Chicago Area

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